Lately I have been considering the current state of
the teaching of philosophy at A-level. There is a philosophy A-level offered by
AQA.This is an excellent course because
it requires students to develop significant subject knowledge and to tackle core
problems in philosophy.However, increasingly
schools are offering the subject of ‘philosophy and ethics’ at A-level when
this refers to certain modules on the various A-levels in religious studies
offered by OCR, AQA and Edexcel.

My concern is that this dilutes the subject of philosophy at
A-level.Instead of being required to study
the core area of epistemology and to read at least one complex philosophy text,
students study what is labelled philosophy, or philosophy and ethics, by their
schools.While the philosophy modules
within the A-level religious studies courses are valuable they do limit
themselves to ethics and religious philosophy.The highly valuable study of epistemology, broader metaphysics (beyond questions of God's existence) and the mastery of a philosophical
text that is required on the AQA philosophy A-level is not required by the
philosophical components of the religious studies A-levels.Instead of studying philosophy on its own
terms and with a breadth of topics - including the philosophy of mind,
philosophy of art, political philosophy and metaphysics – they are being offered a highly selective
syllabus.

Whilst I think that
philosophy’s plight merits attention I in no way intend to denigrate the subject of religious
studies.My concern is that increasingly
schools combine philosophy and religion in one department and employ teachers
of 'religion and philosophy'.These
subjects have many things in common but when viewed as a whole philosophy
includes areas that have as much in common with the natural and social sciences
as they do with religious studies.Whilst
religious philosophy and ethics are key areas of philosophy there is so much
more to it.If philosophy students limit
themselves to areas of the subject that combine with religion studies and if
they do not focus on other areas fundamental to philosophy and its unique
methods they do lose out.There is a
danger that students come to see philosophy as wholly a matter of belief or
opinion rather than recognising the challenges of formulating philosophical
arguments that underpin founding claims in science, morality and many other
areas of knowledge.

Lately I have been considering the current state of
the teaching of philosophy at A-level. There is a philosophy A-level offered by
AQA.This is an excellent course because
it requires students to develop significant subject knowledge and to tackle core
problems in philosophy.However, increasingly
schools are offering the subject of ‘philosophy and ethics’ at A-level when
this refers to certain modules on the various A-levels in religious studies
offered by OCR, AQA and Edexcel.

My concern is that this dilutes the subject of philosophy at
A-level.Instead of being required to study
the core area of epistemology and to read at least one complex philosophy text,
students study what is labelled philosophy, or philosophy and ethics, by their
schools.While the philosophy modules
within the A-level religious studies courses are valuable they do limit
themselves to ethics and religious philosophy.The highly valuable study of epistemology, broader metaphysics (beyond questions of God's existence) and the mastery of a philosophical
text that is required on the AQA philosophy A-level is not required by the
philosophical components of the religious studies A-levels.Instead of studying philosophy on its own
terms and with a breadth of topics - including the philosophy of mind,
philosophy of art, political philosophy and metaphysics – they are being offered a highly selective
syllabus.

Whilst I think that
philosophy’s plight merits attention I in no way intend to denigrate the subject of religious
studies.My concern is that increasingly
schools combine philosophy and religion in one department and employ teachers
of 'religion and philosophy'.These
subjects have many things in common but when viewed as a whole philosophy
includes areas that have as much in common with the natural and social sciences
as they do with religious studies.Whilst
religious philosophy and ethics are key areas of philosophy there is so much
more to it.If philosophy students limit
themselves to areas of the subject that combine with religion studies and if
they do not focus on other areas fundamental to philosophy and its unique
methods they do lose out.There is a
danger that students come to see philosophy as wholly a matter of belief or
opinion rather than recognising the challenges of formulating philosophical
arguments that underpin founding claims in science, morality and many other
areas of knowledge.